BENEFIT BEAT

Career Development Webinars Available

RECORDED WEBINARS from UIC Career Development Month are now posted. The links are available at https://www.hr.uic.edu/careermonth/. Click on the webinar title to launch its recording.

VISIT THESE web pages to explore information on the site and learn more about what you can do now to grow in your career.

QUESTIONS OR comments? Send an email to mycareeruic@uillinois.edu

BENEFIT BEAT

Be a Mentor or Mentee

APPLICATIONS FOR the 2016-2017 Staff Leadership Mentor Program (SLMP) are being accepted now until Friday, June 24, at http://go.uic.edu/slmp through UIC Human Resources.

THE STAFF Leadership Mentor Program is a structured mentorship program that matches mentors and mentees and provides guidance and support over the course of a year. This program develops the careers of individual employees and strengthens UIC's organizational continuity through knowledge-sharing and employee engagement.  All Academic Professional and Civil Service employees are welcome to participate in the mentoring program as a mentor or mentee, or both. About 60 minutes a month is all it takes to keep your skills fresh and to help yourself and others grow.

VISIT THE website  http://go.uic.edu/slmp to apply, to get more details about SLMP, or to peruse mentoring resources.

THE UNIVERSITY gets more mentee applications than mentor applications. You do not have to be an expert with many years of experience to share your knowledge, experiences, and guidance. If you have been in your field for two or more years, please consider being a mentor.

Benefit Beat

Antoniah Lewis-Reese.

Taking the Lead and Effecting Change

TAKING THE Lead and Effecting Change will be an APAC Professional Development Committee presentation to help attendees understand what it means to be a leader and what it takes to be effective.  In this presentation, attendees will assess their personal leadership style, learn when and how to adapt it, discover the importance of working with a team, and how to lead change regardless of their position in the workplace. 

THE SPEAKER will be Antoniah Lewis-Reese, a project manager, change agent, and strategic advisor currently applying her talents as the Executive Assistant to the Dean at the UIC School of Public Health. She holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Roosevelt University and has nearly 20 years of professional experience in strategic management, process improvement, and enhancing organizational effectiveness. 

OVER THE course of her career, she has both supported and assumed leadership over a number of initiatives aimed at improving enterprise efficiency and communication. Her recent efforts at the School of Public Health have been focused on evaluating strategic plan progress, facilitating an examination of organizational design, and establishing a college-wide staff engagement program. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, advocating for education and social justice, and advising small business owners in change management and marketing strategy. 

THE WORKSHOP will be held on the West Campus, Friday, April 15, noon to 1:30 p.m., Room 932, SPH-PI, 1603 W. Taylor St., or on the East Campus, Friday, April 22, noon to 1:30 p.m., Room 401, University Hall, 601 S. Morgan St. To register, go to

https://uic.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_e8KzkrKMifGdohf

MEMBERS OF the APAC Professional Development Committee are Julie Kong, Kim Mayfield, and Tracy Sikorski.

SURS Will Pay Annuitants Despite Lack of State Budget

By Christy Levy, UIC News

ILLINOIS COMPTROLLER Leslie Munger announced Oct. 14 that the State would likely delay its pension payments in November and December, but University annuitants will still receive their payments from the State Universities Retirement System.

THE DELAY would mean that SURS will receive its money from the State later than promised, but SURS will continue to pay University retirees, said Brenda Russell, President of UIC-SUAA, the UIC chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association.

“THE STATE will delay the money because there’s no budget, but they have to move the money eventually,” said Russell, Professor Emerita of physiology and biophysics. “SURS benefit payments are not tied to that transfer — SURS has their own money in their accounts. People are really worried that they are not going to get their pension, but they will.”

SURS HAS a safety net of funds to make sure university retirees are paid on time, Russell said.

“THE ONE who is getting shorted is the SURS agency,” she said. “It’s the same situation for the University — the State is not paying the University but the University is still paying its employees.”

THE STATE may delay payments to pension agencies such as SURS, but it is required by law to pay its pension obligations without making cuts. The Illinois Supreme Court in May unanimously declared unconstitutional a 2013 State pension law that would have diminished employee benefits.

“THE STATE is spending at a faster rate than they’re taking in — you don’t need to be an economist or mathematician to know they can’t do that,” Russell said. “This is a crisis and everyone should be contacting their House representatives and State senators and Governor Bruce Rauner and saying, ‘Do something.’ People are worried and they should be. They need to lean on the politicians.”

BENEFIT BEAT

SURS to Host Fall Retirement Education Seminar

THE STATE Universities Retirement System will offer a fall Retirement Education Seminar for members enrolled in the traditional and portable plans on Wednesday, Nov. 18, in Naperville, IL, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is required, and there is a fee of $20 per member and $10 for a non-member guest. Lunch will be provided. To register call (800) 275-7877. For more information, go to  http://surs.org/news-article/090815/retirement-education-seminars-naperville.

BENEFIT BEAT

SURS to Host Fall Retirement Education Seminar

THE STATE Universities Retirement System will offer a fall Retirement Education Seminar for members enrolled in the traditional and portable plans on Wednesday, Nov. 18, in Naperville, IL, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is required, and there is a fee of $20 per member and $10 for a non-member guest. Lunch will be provided. To register call (800) 275-7877. For more information, go to http://surs.org/news-article/090815/retirement-education-seminars-naperville.

BENEFIT BEAT

Adoption Assistance Available

ASSISTANCE IS available for employees adding to their families through adoption. All regular full-time employees and part-time employees with a 50% or greater appointment are eligible for the State of Illinois Adoption Assistance program.

THE PROGRAM will reimburse your eligible expenses up to a maximum of $1,500 for a Waiting Child, and up to $1,000 for any other eligible child. Your adoption must be final before expenses are eligible for this benefit. The request for reimbursement must be submitted within one year from the end of the plan year in which the adoption became final. See NESSIE at https://nessie.uihr.uillinois.edu/cf/benefits/index.cfm?Item_ID=2774 for a definition of a Waiting Child, a list of eligible and ineligible expenses, a list of required reimbursement documentation, and information on health insurance coverage for your adopted child.

FOR MORE information about the Adoption Assistance program, contact the Central Management Services/Group Insurance Division at (217) 782- 2548 or (800) 442-1300. For questions about adoption in general, contact the Adoption Information Center of Illinois at (800) 572-2390.

BENEFIT BEAT

Resources Available to Deal With Sexual Misconduct

UIC’s SEXUAL Misconduct Policy http://sexualmisconduct.uic.edu/ states that sexual misconduct is a violation of UIC’s values and policies and is a barrier to fulfilling the University’s educational, research, and service missions. Sexual misconduct is expressly prohibited and will not be tolerated at UIC.

UIC OFFERS assistance and intervention to survivors of sexual misconduct to support their continued progress at the University. UIC can provide a coordinated response that may include interim safety measures, academic accommodations, housing relocation, student conduct process, victim advocacy, respondent assistance, and counseling – regardless of whether criminal or Title IX investigations are pursued.

THE TITLE IX Coordinator in the Office for Access and Equity is responsible for investigating all reports of sexual misconduct. The Title IX Coordinator, UIC Police, Campus Advocacy Network, the Office of the Dean of Students, Campus Housing, and the Counseling Center are the primary units that coordinate support services, victim assistance, and referrals for victims of sexual misconduct. The campus provides confidential places for members of the UIC community to receive support and advocacy.

THE UNIVERSITY imposes strict sanctions against those found responsible for sexual misconduct and assists survivors in the pursuit of administrative, civil, and legal remedies. Personal retaliation in connection with any possible sexual misconduct is prohibited.

TO CONTACT the UIC Police, call (312) 355-5555 for emergencies or (312) 996-2830 for non-emergencies.

CONTACT THE OAE Title IX Coordinator, Rebecca Gordon, at (312) 996-8670 or email TitleIX@uic.edu to report sexual misconduct for investigation or to request faculty and staff training on Title IX.

TO TALK with someone confidentially about options -- faculty, staff or students can contact Andie Celerio at the Campus Advocacy Network at (312) 413-8206 or email can-appointment@uic.edu.

FOR CONFIDENTIAL counseling, contact Employee Assistance Service at (312) 996-3588 for faculty and staff.

BENEFIT BEAT

Human Resources Expands Professional Development Offerings

UIC HUMAN Resources is expanding professional development offerings on campus, with more convenient locations, new courses and resources, and workshops.

CLASSROOM LEARNING has been extended to locations on both the East Campus and West Campus to make attendance more convenient.

NEW AND improved courses in subjects such as email communication, customer service, and workplace cooperation will prepare you to take charge of your performance. For managers and supervisors, group exercise workshops will help you understand, prepare for, and overcome daily workplace challenges for you and your team.

FOR MORE information, course descriptions, and dates, visit the HR Training Calendar page at https://www.hr.uic.edu/calendar_training on the UIC Human Resources website www.hr.uic.edu Professional Development and Training Opportunities page.

FOR QUESTIONS, email mycareeruic@uillinois.edu.

BENEFIT BEAT

Dispute Resolution Services Can Assist APs

By Katherine Vega

DISPUTE RESOLUTION Services (DRS) is a resource available to all staff, as well as faculty and students, that provides interpersonal counseling services for those facing conflicts in the workplace or the classroom.

“DRS PROVIDES private consultation, facilitation, and mediation services to faculty, staff, and students on a wide variety of issues,” said Kathy Irving, Assistant Equal Opportunity Officer. They work by exploring the concerns of the affected parties, meeting with the parties together, and ultimately helping the students, faculty, or staff members come up with a solution to their problem.

DRS IS a proactive program that aims to help solve problems before they grow bigger. “Its purpose is to bring parties to a mutually agreeable resolution of differences before they escalate into formal time-intense grievances, charges, or costly lawsuits,” said Irving.

PEOPLE CAN contact DRS in a wide range of situations, but early intervention is encouraged. “It is suggested that as soon as an individual believes there is unresolved conflict in the workplace, they should contact DRS for an initial consultation,” added Irving. Common issues that DRS mediators address are interpersonal conflicts, lack of communication, toxic work environments, and unclear job expectations.

DRS ENSURES that all inquiries are handled on a case-by-case basis, so there is no “typical” solution to any problem. “Because each inquiry is different…the appropriate handling of an inquiry is best determined only after an initial consultation,” concluded Irving.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION Services began operation 15 years ago and has been used successfully by all employment groups. DRS also offers team-building training and unit assessments for a small fee. To learn more about DRS or to inquire about their programs, visit www.uic.edu/depts/oae/DRS/RequestDRS.htm or call Caryn Bills, Director for the Office of Access and Equity, at (312) 996-8670 or Kathy Irving at (312) 996-5979.

Petition: Supplemental Retirement Benefits

We will update this page regularly with updates on the petition.
Check back often for news!

April 21, 2014 at 10 a.m.: Petition is launched
April 30 at 9 a.m.: Over 1,100 Signatures!

The Petition is Available Here: https://uofi.uic.edu/fb/sec/3250911

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

WE ASK you to consider signing our petition in support of University-subsidized supplemental retirement benefits. 

RECENT PENSION legislation, Public Act 98-599, has significantly diminished the retirement benefits for University of Illinois employees. At the January 2014 Board of Trustees meeting, University leaders decided to explore supplemental retirement benefit programs that could help minimize the impact for faculty and staff. The plan being considered will not fully offset the benefits we have lost, but they represent the University’s first and best efforts at repairing the damage.

IF LEGISLATORS do not support our current efforts, we may not be able to secure the supplemental retirement benefits under consideration. It would also set a precedent, making any subsequent effort by the University to secure supplemental retirement benefits that much more difficult.

WE WANT Illinois State legislators to support University efforts to secure supplemental retirement benefits, and we are providing you an opportunity to voice your support for the supplemental retirement benefits by signing our petition. 

YOUR PARTICIPATION in this petition is voluntary. This petition is open to all employees and annuitants who have paid into the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) including Academic Professionals, Faculty, and Civil Servants; as well as their colleagues, family, friends and supporters. If you wish to review and / or sign the petition, please click the link below:

https://uofi.uic.edu/fb/sec/3250911

IF YOU WISH TO REVIEW AND / OR SIGN THE PETITION, PLEASE DO SO NOW. THE PETITION WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY, MAY 2, AT 5 p.m. 

IT SHOULD take about ten minutes or less to review and / or sign the petition. While at work, you may review and / or sign the petition before work, after work, or during any normally scheduled break (such as lunch) using your work computer.

PLEASE NOTE: University and Campus Human Resources, the Office of the Chancellor, and the Ethics Office have all been made aware of the petition. Advocating for support of the University of Illinois and employees is not prohibited by university or campus policies or the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Employees should exercise care to ensure these activities do not negatively impact fulfillment of employment responsibilities.

This petition is being coordinated by UIC’s Academic Professional Advisory Committee (APAC).

Ralph Martire of Center for Tax and Budget Accountability Proposes Pension Financing Solution

Ralph Martire of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability has proposed
a workable solution to the State’s pension financing problem.

By Neal Lorenzi

RALPH MARTIRE, Executive Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (CTBA), has proposed a multi-year solution to the State’s pension financing problem that would replace the current 30-year full-funding plan with a 44-year payment plan. Essentially, he wants to refinance the pension “mortgage” to lower the annual payment. The Center is a bipartisan fiscal policy think tank based in Chicago.

MARTIRE’S PROPOSAL would “restructure” 90 percent of the $93 billion unfunded liability, or roughly $85 billion. All but ten percent of the unfunded liability would be paid off by 2057, through equal annual contributions from State government. Martire estimates the payment would be approximately $6.9 billion every year for 44 years.

CURRENTLY, STATE law requires the State government to pay off the pension systems’ unfunded liability by 2044 in annual contributions. These contributions, however, increase in size annually between 2013 and 2044. For the Teachers’ Retirement System, for example, the annual State contribution in 2014 is scheduled to be $3.4 billion, and will increase over the next 31 years to $9.31 billion.

LEGISLATORS OF both parties say that this continually rising “ramp” payment is too expensive and will be unaffordable in the future because it will re-direct money from other State budget priorities. The pension systems are left with just 40 percent of the funding they should currently have, which is well below the 80 percent generally deemed healthy for public systems.

“SIMPLY RE-AMORTIZING $85 billion of the unfunded liability into flat, annual debt payments of around $6.9 billion each through 2057 would solve the problem,” explained Martire. “After inflation, this new, flat, annual payment structure creates a financial obligation for the State that decreases in real terms over time, in place of the dramatically increasing structure under current law. Moreover, because some principal would be front-loaded, this re-amortization would cost taxpayers $35 billion less than current law. It solves the problem by dealing with the cause.”

THE CURRENT crisis, he added, is the direct result of a 1995 law intended to bring the retirement systems to 90 percent funding by 2045. That legislation so back-loaded the payment schedule that the unfunded liability will continue to grow until FY 2030, topping out at $133.4 billion, while the required annual State contribution will continue rising to reach $17.6 billion in 2045.

THE STATE’S fiscal system has a structural imbalance and therein lays the problem, according to Martire. Even in a normal economy, the system cannot keep pace with the cost of delivering the same level of services every year, much less meet a back-loaded repayment schedule for unfunded liability in a pension system. The fiscal structures needed to fund the current plan do not exist.

“THE CURRENT repayment structure is not a creature of actuarial assumptions or actuarial requirements but is purely a legal fiction the State imposed upon itself to kick the funding can down the road,” Martire said. “So, to solve the real problem that is creating pressure on the State’s fiscal system, the State has to re-amortize the debt repayment schedule or the fiscal pressure will not be alleviated.

“WE’VE GOT to live within an existing fiscal system and find a practical approach to solving this problem,” he added. “We still have to maintain the fiscal capacity to pay for State services as well as our other debt. Also, the State has to share its income tax revenue with local government.”

THE DEMANDS being made on the State fiscal system go well beyond paying for pensions, he added. The majority of the State’s money is used to pay for education, healthcare, and public safety.

MARTIRE URGES UIC employees to prevail upon their State representatives and State senators to do the right thing, which in this case is take a realistic approach to funding the pension system.

FOR MORE information about the CTBA, see www.ctbaonline.org.

SUAA Sues Over Pension Changes

THE STATE Universities Annuitants Association (SUAA) on behalf of its members and a group of active and retired University employees filed a lawsuit March 6 in Champaign County Circuit Court challenging Senate Bill 1, [PA 98 -599] which causes significant cuts to public pensions and affects State University and Community College employees who are paid through the State University Retirement System (SURS).

“WE WERE put in a position where our only course of action was to file this lawsuit,” said Linda Brookhart, Executive Director of SUAA. “We have a responsibility to represent the interest of our members and to also stand against a law we believe violates the Illinois Constitution in a variety of ways.”

SUAA’s LAWSUIT challenges the changes to the pension code on the basis that they violate three different clauses of the Illinois Constitution. The suits claims Senate Bill 1 violates the Pension Clause (Article 13 Sec. 5), which forbids diminishment of pensions, the Takings Clause (Article 1 Sec. 15), which forbids taking of private property for public use without just compensation, and the Contracts Clause (Article 1 Sec. 16), which forbids the State to breach contracts that it makes. Several other lawsuits making similar arguments have also been filed across the State on behalf of public employees, but SURS members are different in some significant ways, according to SUAA.

SURS MEMBERS have the ability to choose one of three different retirement options, but once they choose a retirement option, they are locked into their retirement plan. By changing the rules governing the various SURS retirement plans, SUAA believes the State is in breach of contract.

ADDITIONALLY SURS members have the ability to buy years off their retirement. Senate Bill 1 increases the retirement age requirements, which mean SURS members who bought years back thinking they would retire at a certain age will have to work longer as a result, which SUAA believes is a breach of the agreement these employees had with the State.

“SURS MEMBERS make an irrevocable choice between different kinds of pension plans, and many pay more into the system to ‘buy years,’” Brookhart said. “When the State then changes the rules, it puts our folks in a trick box. We appreciate that other groups are fighting this law, but we have an obligation to ensure that those issues which are unique to current and retired employees of State universities and community colleges are fully presented.”

THE CASE number is 2014MR207. A copy of the complaint is available upon request. SUAA is represented by John D. Carr and the Law Offices of Maduff & Maduff in Chicago, www.madufflaw.com.